Orlando Predators Sign All-Arena Wide Reciever Bobby Sippio

ORLANDO - The Orlando Predators are proud to announce today the signing of wide receiver Bobby Sippio. Sippio is widely considered the best Arena Football player in the game today having been named First Team All-Arena in his last season of Arena Football.

With the arrival of Sippio the Predators now has arguably the top receiving corps in the AFL. Sippio has previously played Arena Football with the Chicago Rush, Tampa Bay Storm and Dallas Desperados and spent time in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. He led the Arena Football League with an amazing 53 touchdown receptions during the 2007 campaign with Chicago.

The arrival of Sippio comes at a critical time for the Predators, as they face the Milwaukee Iron this Friday at the Amway Arena. With two consecutive wins over Dallas and Alabama, the Predators suddenly find themselves back in the race for a playoff position after starting the year 0-3.

"Bobby brings a unique skill set to our team", said Head Coach Pat O'Hara. "Bobby brings a dynamic winning attitude to the game and we are blessed to have him. I'm also excited that he will be able to showcase his talents in his hometown".

The Predators receivers have showed steady improvement since the start of the season. TT Toliver has been enjoying the best start of his career with 701 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Derrick Lewis has also seemed to find the form that made him one of the league's top receivers with the Austin Wranglers. With the emergence of the elusive Josh Bush and solid performances from Jerrian James and Robert Quiroga, there are no easy match-ups for opponents among the Predators receivers.

Sippio comes with the perfect Arena Football pedigree and should provide an inviting target for quarterback Nick Hill. After leading the AFL in touchdowns in 2007 he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs where he made the team's final 53 man roster. During Chiefs training camp, he was heavily featured on the HBO series Hard Knocks. Later released by the Chiefs, Sippio spent time in the United Football League with the California Redwoods and the Florida Tuskers. At 6'3" and 215 pounds, Sippio will be among the tallest receivers in the Arena Football League and make him a difficult target to cover.

Sippio is a local product for the Predators having played football and basketball at Kissimmee Osceola High School, making his signing a homecoming. Sippio went on to be a standout at Western Kentucky before signing with the Peoria Pirates of af2 in 2002. Sippio's career blossomed in 2004 with the Dallas Desperados when he had 1218 yards on 75 receptions and 32 touchdowns. His numbers have steadily improved since then culminating in his signing with the Chiefs. According to him the best is yet to come.

"I have always wanted to play in Orlando," said Sippio. "Having played my high school ball here, the opportunity to play in front of my friends and family in The Jungle' is something I am looking forward to".